06 February 2011
BLOG 36: BIRTHDAY GIRL AND BIG BLUE BIRDS
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Birthday Girl
Janny celebrated her birthday on January 25, and we tried to find a time to enjoy this special occasion. The highlight, though, was a surprise party hosted by Neighbor Bill and his wife, Patty. Here are a few shots of our neighborhood friends. Note that Mitzy was not invited--she escaped from home three times so we finally relented and let her in.
Big Blue Birds
The following Saturday morning at 5:05, Janny and I headed our Element north off the Island. Ahead of my projections, we arrived into Venice at 6:20--just enough time for another cup of coffee at MacDonald’s. By 6:40, though, we were parked at the Venice Rookery unloading photography gear. What a gorgeous morning! By 6:50 I was trying my luck at making flash blurs of all the birds that had hung out for the night--great blue herons, great egrets, snowy egrets, green egrets, tri-colored herons, ibis, glossy ibis, and probably some others in the mix. At about 7:00 a big blue (probably a male) tried to land on another big blue (probably a female) and the noise she erupted with sent several hundred roosting birds into flight! We spent until 9:30 enjoying the antics of the hatched-not-long-ago chicks and the rituals of the adults. Here are a few of the pics.
Ding Darling
Tuesday morning was a gorgeous day with low tide just around dawn and a gentle wind out of the east--perfect for bird photography! So Jan and I along with the Kids left early by car and made the trek to Ding Darling on Sanibel Island, one of the most famous national wildlife refuges on the planet. We drove the four-mile, one-way road, stopping repeatedly to get out and photograph. We saw all types of birds: herons, egrets, ducks, spoonbills, eagles, brown pelicans, white pelicans, anhingas, cormorants, wood storks, and ospreys. Shortly after driving through the refuge gate, a cattle egret adopted us landing on the car and following us along our journey. Here are a few of my favorite pics.
One of Those Weeks
Ever had a time when everything broke? We just had two appliances repaired, a flat on Jan’s bike, the golf cart quit running, there is an electrical problem in the motor home, tire and break issues with our car, one boat engine isn’t cooling properly, and now our AV system receiver broke! Well, no one is hurt so it isn’t all that important, but it sure makes you think!
Pups Across America
No much this week! Here is a shot of a just-bathed Mitzy under her towel with her morning chicken strip snack and an action photo of the two Kids behind the post office.
Painterly Pups
Here is the painted version of Mitzy with a naked baby background.
Come back next week for some more pup pics and Pine Island action.
Janny celebrated her birthday on January 25, and we tried to find a time to enjoy this special occasion. The highlight, though, was a surprise party hosted by Neighbor Bill and his wife, Patty. Here are a few shots of our neighborhood friends. Note that Mitzy was not invited--she escaped from home three times so we finally relented and let her in.
Big Blue Birds
The following Saturday morning at 5:05, Janny and I headed our Element north off the Island. Ahead of my projections, we arrived into Venice at 6:20--just enough time for another cup of coffee at MacDonald’s. By 6:40, though, we were parked at the Venice Rookery unloading photography gear. What a gorgeous morning! By 6:50 I was trying my luck at making flash blurs of all the birds that had hung out for the night--great blue herons, great egrets, snowy egrets, green egrets, tri-colored herons, ibis, glossy ibis, and probably some others in the mix. At about 7:00 a big blue (probably a male) tried to land on another big blue (probably a female) and the noise she erupted with sent several hundred roosting birds into flight! We spent until 9:30 enjoying the antics of the hatched-not-long-ago chicks and the rituals of the adults. Here are a few of the pics.
Ding Darling
Tuesday morning was a gorgeous day with low tide just around dawn and a gentle wind out of the east--perfect for bird photography! So Jan and I along with the Kids left early by car and made the trek to Ding Darling on Sanibel Island, one of the most famous national wildlife refuges on the planet. We drove the four-mile, one-way road, stopping repeatedly to get out and photograph. We saw all types of birds: herons, egrets, ducks, spoonbills, eagles, brown pelicans, white pelicans, anhingas, cormorants, wood storks, and ospreys. Shortly after driving through the refuge gate, a cattle egret adopted us landing on the car and following us along our journey. Here are a few of my favorite pics.
One of Those Weeks
Ever had a time when everything broke? We just had two appliances repaired, a flat on Jan’s bike, the golf cart quit running, there is an electrical problem in the motor home, tire and break issues with our car, one boat engine isn’t cooling properly, and now our AV system receiver broke! Well, no one is hurt so it isn’t all that important, but it sure makes you think!
Pups Across America
No much this week! Here is a shot of a just-bathed Mitzy under her towel with her morning chicken strip snack and an action photo of the two Kids behind the post office.
Painterly Pups
Here is the painted version of Mitzy with a naked baby background.
Come back next week for some more pup pics and Pine Island action.
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